A noisy classroom may sound less like an educational place and more like a fish market.
Classrooms shouldn’t be noisy. A classroom is a place of learning and discipline.
Older kids can sometimes be equally noisy as the young ones.
It is equally important to quiet a classroom as teaching.
Students make friends at school and need to talk about everything in the world whenever they find the slightest break from their studies.
Usually, younger kids are chatterboxes. They have millions of questions in their head and never lose energy while talking.
When all of them start talking, it becomes difficult for the teachers to keep them quiet.
The teacher must tailor her efforts to the age group she interacts with.
Usually, it’s easier for teachers to make the older kids quiet than the younger ones.
Older kids listen to directions and can obey them the right way.
Younger kids may not take orders. Instead, younger kids may need more creative ways to get quiet.
Let’s have a look at some of the effective ways to quiet a classroom.
1) By clapping your hands
When you find the class too noisy, there is no need to shout.
Just walk around them, or just clap your hands.
The sound produced by clapping your hands will make the kids quiet at once.
This will make them pay attention to you.
Clapping your hands is also an easy way of making class quiet because it does not require as much energy as shouting.
Shouting may also make you look like a rigorous teacher.
2) Give signals with your hand
You can teach the class a signal and tell them that whenever you give that signal, you all should get quiet at once.
You can use any movements such as thumbs up, peace sign, or waving at the class.
Another way could be to ask the children to respond to you with the same signal.
For example, if you signal to them by making the peace sign with one hand, they should respond by making the peace sign with both hands.
Your class will also enjoy this technique.
Most probably, signaling back to you will make them quiet instantly.
3) Set a timer
Another effective way to keep the class quiet is by setting a timer.
You may use a projector to project the timer on the board.
As soon as you start the timer, everyone who’s busy talking will get attentive.
Don’t set the timer for too long.
Ten seconds is the maximum you should select. This way, the children will feel challenged.
They will try their best to be quieter before their friends.
You can also reward your class if they get quiet before the timer rings and even punish them if they don’t follow this technique.
Older children may understand this technique better than younger children.
But the teacher can teach the younger children about the timer technique too.
4) Make some kind of noise
Producing some type of noise or sounds can also be used to make the class quiet.
All you need to do is use any instrument, like a metal triangle or a rain stick, to produce sound.
This sound will help in attracting the children.
This technique is more helpful for younger children but can also work for older ones.
You can also use the duster to make a noise while gently hitting it on the table.
Ensure you don’t scare the younger children by making noise that’s too loud for them.
Be gentle and make sure you produce the sound with a rhythm. Sound with a rhythm will be more instructive than rude.
This technique will help in getting the kid’s attention.
5) Play Music
Playing music can also be a creative way to get the class quiet.
This will be entertaining for the children, whether young or older.
As soon as you notice the class is getting noisy, take out your music player and play something loud so that children get attentive instantly.
It would be best to play rhymes for the younger children.
This technique can also be used for senior students, but it would be a more valuable and creative way of stopping the younger kids from disturbing the classroom environment.
Most young kids don’t want to take directions and hate being controlled. They don’t listen to the instructions much.
Playing music would be the best technique to make them silent.
They will also enjoy it and probably listen to your instructions better when the music stops playing.
6) Use of traffic light
The use of large novelty plastic traffic lights would be another very creative way to stop the class from making noise.
Older children will understand this technique better.
You will need to teach the small children how to follow the instructions from this technique.
Install this ample traffic light on any classroom corner but ensure every student can easily see it. Tell them that red light means total silence.
Yellow light warns not to get too loud and slower down on the volume.
Greenlight is a sign that you may talk but in a low voice.
It is an exciting way that students may find as a game and love to follow the signs.
7) Let the children make rules
During the start of your new session, conduct a small meeting with your students.
Tell them what you think about discipline in the class and how you want everyone to abide by the rules.
Make a list of all the classroom rules. Also, take suggestions from students.
Ask children what they think about the rules you informed them about.
Make sure you are flexible about the rules; otherwise, the meeting will be useless.
Make them write their opinion about the rules you created. Also, inform them about the points that you would not compromise on.
You can make a strict rule about noise and disturbance in the class.
This technique will be beneficial in making the class quiet.
Students will feel ownership of the rules they made with your collaboration.
This way, they will follow the rules more easily.
Younger students would not understand much of this technique, but it would be helpful for older students.
8) Offer rewards
Offer your students rewards for behaving well in the classroom.
Inform them that they will be rewarded if they get quiet on the first sign.
That reward could be anything like a pizza party or a trip they wanted.
For younger children, you can offer them candies or chocolates as a reward by the end of the day if they behave well.
This technique will encourage them to follow your instructions more.
You can also inform them that they will get bonus points of discipline if they get quiet on your very first instruction.
You can paste a point chart on your classroom wall.
This method will make it easier for children to track their points.
Every child would want more points so they will follow your instructions in this competition more.
9) Give students a break
Give students a break from class for some time.
Too long lectures can be tiresome for children.
There comes a point when they cannot focus and concentrate on their studies.
At that point, children are more attracted to other activities such as talking.
It would be an effective technique to give children a break for some time from class.
Ask children to do whatever they want during break time.
They can talk but try to make less noise. As far as students show discipline, they can do anything they want during break time.
After the break, you can start your lecture again when the children are done with all the talking.
10) By keeping calm and not shouting
Shouting will give the message to the children that they can also shout when they get angry.
Even when you are mad because of all the noise around you, don’t lose your calm.
Keep calm and tell the children very politely to get quiet.
You’ll be surprised that this will be more effective than shouting.
If you yell at students and get frustrated, this way children will lose respect for you.
You can also leave the room to get fresh air and come back fresh and calm.
11) Leave room for a few minutes as children’s punishment
Another way to get the class quiet is to show them that you are not okay with their behavior.
You can show your resentment.
Tell them that you are leaving the room if they don’t get quiet.
Be very polite, and don’t yell or shout. And then do as you say. Leave the room.
Children will feel this as their punishment.
They will feel guilt and get quiet in no time.
And they will also be aware of the next time.
12) Set clear boundaries
Set clear boundaries, and define rules.
Write and paste them on the classroom wall to remind the kids to be quiet and obey what the teacher says.
You can also take suggestions from kids when making the rules.
This way they will become more involved, they will own the rules, and will be happier in following them.
13) Do a countdown
Start a countdown.
This countdown will be a warning for the elder children, and at the same time, this technique will be entertaining for the younger kids.
Most probably, they will start counting down with you.
You can start counting down from ten; when you reach one, the classroom will show pin-drop silence.
Final Thoughts
Silence is an important aspect when it comes to teaching.
Getting the attention of all the students while explaining something plays a vital role.
However, we hope these ways to quiet a classroom help you in the best possible manner.
FAQs
1) Why is it important to have a quiet classroom?
A quiet classroom is important for several reasons.
a) First, it allows students to focus on the lesson without distractions. When students are able to pay attention, they are more likely to retain information and do well on tests.
b) Second, a quiet classroom provides an opportunity for introverted students to participate. These students may be reluctant to speak up in a noisy environment but can contribute in a quieter setting.
c) Finally, a quiet classroom helps to create a sense of order and calm. This can make the learning environment more pleasant for both students and teachers.
When classrooms are too loud, it can be chaotic and overwhelming. A quiet classroom can help to prevent this by promoting an atmosphere of respect and cooperation.
2) What are attention signals in the classroom?
Attention signals are ways for teachers to get students’ attention without talking.
They can be helpful when the noise level in the classroom gets too high or when students seem to be off task.
Some common attention signals include clapping, ringing a bell, or flashing the lights.
While each teacher has their own preference, it’s important to choose an attention signal that is easy for all students to see and hear.
That way, everyone can stay focused and on task.
3) How do you get students to stop shouting out?
There are a few different strategies that can be used to get students to stop shouting out in class.
a) One is to provide positive reinforcement for students who raise their hands and wait to be called on. This can be in the form of praise, points, or sticker rewards.
b) Another strategy is to allow students to have a turn to speak after they raise their hand and are called on. This gives them a sense of ownership over the classroom environment and helps them to feel like their voices are being heard.
c) Finally, it is important to model the behavior you expect from your students. If you speak in a calm and respectful voice, they are more likely to do the same.
By using a combination of these strategies, you can create a classroom environment where everyone feels comfortable speaking up.
4) How do I stop side conversations in class?
If you’ve ever been in a classroom where side conversations were constantly interrupting the lecture, you know how frustrating it can be.
But there are a few things you can do to help stop side conversations from happening in the first place.
a) First, make sure that you’re providing enough opportunities for students to ask questions and participate in discussions. If students feel like they’re not being heard, they may be more likely to start chatting with their fellow students.
b) Second, try to keep your lectures engaging and interactive. If students are bored or disengaged, they’re more likely to start chatting instead of paying attention.
c) Finally, make it clear that side conversations are not tolerated in your classroom. If students know that they’ll be called on if they start talking, they’re less likely to do it.
By following the above tips, you can help create an environment where side conversations are less likely to occur.
5) How do you get students’ attention?
It can be tough to get students’ attention, especially when they’re tired or there’s something on their minds.
However, there are a few tried and true methods that can help.
a) One is to start with a question that requires some thought. This will get students’ brains engaged from the start.
b) Another is to use props or visuals to help make your point. Sometimes a physical object can be just the thing to catch students’ eyes and ears.
c) Finally, don’t be afraid to mix things up a bit. If you sense that students are getting bored, try changing your tone of voice or adding some humor to your lesson.
When it comes to getting students’ attention, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. However, with a little creativity and trial and error, you’ll soon find what works best for your class.